Chapter 22
Jake
S itting on the ground with my knees up and my head bent down between my legs, I trace lazy circles with a stick. I’ve never told anyone about what happened with Jessie, but it was nice telling Mia.
I keep a lot of things to myself, stuff I don’t even tell my best friends, but Mia has a way of pulling everything out of me. When she looks at me with those brown eyes, I want to bare my entire soul to her.
I don’t know what it is about her, maybe it’s because we probably will never see each other again after this summer, or the fact that I feel like I’ve known her forever.
I look up, and she’s leaning against the trees, her knees up, and her book open on her laps. Our picnic is done, and now she’s lost in her story. I notice the subtle change in her expression, her bottom lip catches between her teeth, and I already know what kind of chapter she’s reading. A slight smirk tugs at my lips. I promise to make her feel better after the hike, and this is the perfect time to fulfill my promise.
I approach her; she looks up and our eyes lock. She smiles shyly at me and bookmarks her book before closing it. “No, keep reading.” I lower myself on the ground before her, the grass soft underneath me. Gently, I part her thighs open, as I rest between them on my stomach.
She hesitates for a moment, but as I carefully roll down her leggings and guide them off her legs, she reopens the book; her gaze flickering between the pages and me. “I promised to make it better, didn’t I?” I ask with a playful raise of my eyes before I press a kiss on her inner thigh.
“Yes.” She nods, her gaze locks with mine, and her breath catches as I continue trailing kisses up her thigh.
“Is this better?” I breathe out against her skin.
“Yes,” she sighs in the quiet between us.
My lips trace the path up her thighs, closer to where she craves them most. “I need you to read out loud, baby,” I gaze up at her. “I want to make sure you’re still reading.”
Her pupils expand, swallowing the light, and darkening her gaze. “…She couldn’t breathe…as she felt the hard thickness of him inside her again.” A soft moan escapes her as she clutches the edge of the book. The sight of her trying to focus on reading out loud while under the spell of my mouth has me unbearably hard, but I remind myself this is about her.
I slide her sexy black thong down and off her legs, revealing the sweetness I crave. She closes her thighs, and I look up at her. Her cheeks redden as she looks at me from under her lashes. “You haven’t done this before, have you?”
She timidly shakes her head.
The fact that I’m the first to taste her sweet pussy makes me eager. “It’s okay, princess. Trust me, you will love it.”
She eases her thighs apart, and I stare at the prettiest sight I’ve ever seen. Nicely groomed, her pink slit glistens with arousal. I lean in, pressing a soft kiss to the nub and inhaling deeply. Her scent is intoxicating, sending my heartbeat into overdrive. “You smell amazing, baby.” Sweet as a wildflower.
I slide my tongue up and down her clit causing a small gasp to escape her lips. That’s some sweet pussy.
With each swipe of my tongue, she struggles to concentrate on her reading, her breath catching in her throat. “Keep reading,” I remind her, though I’m spellbound by the sight and taste of her.
“She… she arched… to meet his next thrust.” Her voice breaks as I suck on her sensitive bud, drawing out gasps and muffled words. Her thighs tremble, and I can feel the tension building inside her.
The sweetness of her arousal deepens under the attentiveness of my tongue, and it ignites a fire inside me, almost overwhelming. Her fingers find their way into my hair, gripping slightly as her thighs part further, inviting me closer.
Pulling away, I roll onto my back and look up at her. She’s staring at me, probably wondering why I stopped. “I need you to ride my face, princess,” I say, and her eyebrows lift up. “Come over here and squat on my face so I can devour that sweet pussy even more.” I growl like a hungry man.
“My ass is too big,” she says nervously.
“Baby, get your thick ass over my face now,” I command, my voice a deep rumble.
She moves and straddles my face, the book still in her hands. Her thick ass covers my face, and I run my tongue along her center to her clit, tasting the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted in my life.
“Twerk on my face, princess.” I say muffled, my face buried deep into her heat. Her hips grind and bounce on my mouth, her juices coat my tongue.
“Fuck, baby!” I slap one of her ass cheeks, and the sharp sound is followed by a cry of pleasure. I give her a slow, long stroke of my tongue, savoring her taste before sinking one finger deep inside her. Another stifle moan escapes her.
“… she… she cried out…” Her voice trembles as she continues to read. When I add another finger, she dissolves into a series of whimpers, her words a tangled mess of pleas and cries.
My fingers start moving faster, working the spot that I know so well. I continue to worship her with my tongue, sucking and curling around her clit. Then she goes quiet, as if her soul has left her body. The mountain seems to hold its breath in anticipation.
“Oh God, Jake,” her voice raw and beautiful cuts through the silence of the mountain. Her body trembles intensely against my mouth, her muscles clenching around my fingers. Her hands grab my shirt, nails digging into my skin.
I remove my finger before sliding her down so I can sit up. I turn her around to face me and she collapses into my chest, her body still shaking. I watch her catches her breath, a light sheen of sweat making her skin glow in the filtered light through the trees.
Seeing her face flush with the bloom of her climax stirs something fierce in my chest. It’s a twist and a roar that I can’t quite tame or make sense of—a storm breaking inside me, wild and unbidden. A part of me wants to dive into that storm, to let it sweep me wherever it’s heading, but I hold back. Instead, I let the beast snarl and pace within its cage.
As she comes back to earth, her eyes fluttering open, I can’t help the smirk that plays on my lips. “Welcome back,” I tease, and she lets out a breathy laugh, still recovering from the high.
“I love hiking,” she says, laughter mingling with satisfaction in her voice. Her joy is contagious.
I join in the laughter, reaching for the baby wipes in my bag, cleaning her up gently. Her curious gaze meets mine, and I raise an eyebrow in response.
“Why do you have baby wipes?” she asks, that skeptical tilt to her voice that always gets me.
I shrug, playing it cool. “Picked them up a few days ago.”
“Why?” she presses with that adorable frown.
I lean in close, my voice a low promise. “Because we’re gonna need them, baby. I plan on making you come to every place we go unless you’re into the idea of being sticky all day.”
Her gaze lingers on me, softening, a mix of emotions dancing there that I’m not ready to dissect just yet. I help her to her feet and gently guide her into her leggings.
“Ready to go down?” I gather our stuff and put it into my backpack. “Or do you need a few minutes?” I tease, “If we didn’t have to walk back, I’d fuck you against the tree. But then I might have to carry you down …” The image of her, pressed against the rough bark, is enticing. She tilts her head, that innocent yet undeniably sultry look she gives me stirring a familiar desire deep within. I’m already thinking about the next time I can have her, feel her, taste her. It’s like she’s cast some spell on me; the more of her I get, the more I hunger for her.
“I thought you could carry my thick ass anywhere,” she says repeating my words back to me.
I close the gap between us, lowering my voice to a husky whisper. “Don’t tempt me, princess.” Her breath hitches, and I can see the anticipation in her eyes. My phone rings, breaking the moment. I sigh, reluctantly pulling away. “Hold that thought,” I say, pressing the phone to my ear as I step back to take the call.
“Yes, Sergio?” My tone shifts to serious. If he’s calling me, it means there’s a problem.
“We have a situation. A pipe burst and flooded some rooms. We need to relocate some guests, and they’re not happy.”
“Fuck,” I curse under my breath. “I’ll be there in about two hours. But make sure you give the guests new rooms, even if they were previously booked, as long as it’s vacant.”
I hang up and turn to see Mia looking concerned. “Everything okay?”
“No, we need to go now. A pipe burst and we have angry guests,” I explain quickly.
“I’m sorry,” she says with genuine concern.
“It is what it is.” I draw a deep breath before releasing it. Everything just keeps getting worse,if it’s not one thing, it’s the other, maybe I should just sell it to the bank. My dad should be the one to deal with this shit not me.
We make our way back down the trail, with Mia trying to keep up with me. Once we’re in the car, I turn to her. “Is it okay if we drive straight there?”
She nods, her expression understanding.
Once we arrive at the hotel, I find a line of angry and frustrated customers waiting in the lobby. I approach Sergio, and he catches me up on the details.
“You can wait in my office while I take care of things here,” I tell Mia. She doesn’t have to deal with this. It’s my mess.
“I want to help,” she insists.
“I appreciate it, but you don’t have to. This is my mess,” I say, my tone a little firmer. I turn away, diving into the crowd of disgruntled guests.
Ignoring my protest, she stays next to me, offering reassuring smiles to everyone, even when I told her she doesn’t have to. I know it’s pointless to ask her to stop.
“Mia, seriously, I’ve got this,” I whisper to her between guests, frustration creeping into my voice.
She turns to look at me. Her eyes narrow, and her lips press into a firm line before returning to the guests with a warm smile. I know not to say anything else. And to be honest, her presence is the only thing keeping me calm right now. Her smile eases both my nerves and the guests’. When she steps away to talk to Sergio, I miss her presence instantly.
After I’m done with the guests, I walk into my office. I find Mia on the phone, her brow furrowed in concentration. I slump into my chair, running a hand through my hair, already mentally exhausted. I need to find a company as soon as possible to fix the pipe.
“I found a company that can fix the pipe tomorrow.” Mia’s voice breaks through my thoughts. I look up at her, puzzled. “I have their information right here with their estimate.” She hands me the paper. “I already talked to them. You just need to confirm.” Her eyes search mine.
“I didn’t ask you to do that,” I snap at her, the stress getting the better of me. She flinches but quickly recovers.
“I know, but I wanted to help.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, grabbing the paper from her, and then immediately call the company to confirm. As I speak, I watch her from the corner of my eye.
She’s sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone. She has her hair pulled into a ponytail and she looks a little exhausted, but she’s still here. And she hasn’t complained once.
I dig into my bag and grab a Snickers bar and give it to her while I wait for them to take me off hold. Memories of our first meeting at the gas station replays in mind. I was immediately infatuated with her.
“Thank you,” I tell her once I’m done with the call. “I really appreciate your help, even though you didn’t have to.”
She gives me a tired but warm smile. “You’re welcome.”
“Come on, let’s go.” I grab our stuff and head out of the office, Mia walking beside me.
We catch Sergio on the way out. “Go home Sergio.” Today was a long day, but we handled everything.
“Okay, I’m leaving,” his laugh follows me outside. The man is a workaholic.
“What do you want to eat?” I grab my keys from my pocket to unlock the jeep.
“Mmm, how about Chinese food.” She rubs her eyes as I open the passenger door for her.
“Chinese food sounds great.Wanna place the order? There's a Chinese food spot on the way.”
“Sure, what do you want?”
“Anything with noodles, and some dumplings.” My stomach growls at the thought.
“I’m gonna get some chicken fried rice, Tso’s chicken, and spring rolls.” She smiles at me.
“Do you want me to order it?” I glance at her when she doesn't make the call.
“I’m ordering it online.”
“Why don't you call instead? It’ll be faster.” I put on my turning signal.
“I don't like talking on the phone, online is more convenient. It’s all done, and the food will be ready in 15 mins.” She adjusts in her seat.
I pull to the restaurant and walk inside to grab our food while Mia waits in the car. I return with a big brown bag and place it in the back seat.
“I think we ordered too much.” I put the car into drive.
“Leftovers are the best.” She yawns, leaning back into her seat.
We pull to the cabin, and I put the bag on the kitchen counter before we head upstairs to shower.
Once I'm done, I put on some comfortable clothes, tank tops and shorts. I walk to Mia's room to see if she's done, but I find her lying on her bed with her legs hanging off the edge.
She hasn't even taken a shower yet. Something in my chest tightens at the sight.
“Mia, you need to take a shower.” I gently shake her shoulder.
“Nooo,” she moves up the bed and tries to snuggle into the blanket.
She must be tired; I should have made sure she took a shower before I did. But she can’t sleep like this.
I walk into her bathroom and prepare a bath for her. Once it’s ready, I return back to the bedroom. “Come on, let’s go.” I lift her into my arms, and her head rests against my shoulders. She’s still groggy as I carry her to the bathroom.
Sleepy Mia is adorable.
I sit her on the sink, supporting her with my body. “Arms up,” I say and she lifts them up as I pull her shirt over her head. Placing her down on her feet, I manage to get her leggings over her thick thighs, and she kicks them off her feet.
Helping her into the tub, she sighs, a small smile playing on her lips. I pull her curls up into a ponytail, my fingers brushing against her neck. Kneeling beside the tub, I grab the sponge and gently squeeze water over her shoulders. Watching as it glistens on her skin. I pour her favorite jasmine soap into the sponge. It doesn’t lather because she’s sensitive to bubbles.
It glides gently across her skin. Her eyes close, and she relaxes under my touch.
Reaching under the water, I guide her hand between her thighs, cleaning it gently. A soft moan escapes her lips. “Eager, aren’t we? Just making sure you’re clean, baby.”
Baby .
The word slips out so easily. We’re just hooking up, so she’s not exactly my baby.
Afterward, I help her out by wrapping her with a towel, patting her dry while she looks at me under her lashes, looking so innocent and sweet.
I’ve never done this before, taking care of a woman. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of things I don’t usually do.
Back in the bedroom, I slip one of her oversized t-shirts over her head. The fabric drapes over her, and she looks up at me with a sleepy, grateful smile. “You would make the sweetest boyfriend.”
That sentence breaks me a little. She deserves a sweet boyfriend, but I can’t be that for her. Not now, maybe not ever. The walls I’ve built around my heart makes it impossible to let anyone in, not even her. Love and relationships are too unpredictable, and too messy.
“I’m just taking care of you.”
I head downstairs to grab our food. When I came back into the room, she’s already lying down, ready to fall back asleep.
“Come on, you’ve got to eat first. You haven’t eaten all day.” I place the food on the bed. Grabbing her hands, I pull her up to sit.
“Open up.” I hold the fork full of rice to her lips. She opens her mouth to take it. She moans softly, chewing on the food while staring at me.
“Careful with those sounds Mia,” I warn her.
She smiles deviously.
I take a few bites, switching between feeding her and eating. I continue offering more her until she says she’s full and ready to go back to sleep.
“Good night, douxy,” she says with a sleepy smile. This is the second time she calls me douxy, and I wonder what it means?
“Good night, Mia,” I grab our plates and the bag, bringing them downstairs. The rest of the food goes in the fridge, and the empty plates in the trash can.
I make my way upstairs planning on going straight to my room, but my feet stop at her door. Most of the time we sleep in our room, but right now I crave her presence.
Before I know what I’m doing, my feet carry me inside. I stand there and watch her like a creep. She’s scared of the dark so her night lamp is still on. Her brown skin glowing under the dimly lit room.
I take off my sandals, and remove my shirt before climbing in the bed next to her. As if she knows I’m here, she moves closer to me in her sleep. Her head finds that perfect spot, and she lets out a small contented sigh.
My arm tightens around her, and the sound of her breathing calms me. “Good night Moonie,” I whisper to her sleeping form.
She feels like mine, except she’s not. She deserves more than I can give her. Someone who can love her without holding back, someone who can give her a future.
That’s not me.
After everything that happens with my parents and Jessie, I’ll never be ready to be in a relationship. I never want to be in that position to hurt her.